Monthly Archives: February 2024

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — When Jesus Stops

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Bible in a Year :

Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him.

Luke 18:40

Today’s Scripture & Insight :

Luke 18:35–43

For days, the sickly cat cried, huddled in a box near my workplace. Abandoned on the street, the feline went unnoticed by many who passed it by—until Jun came along. The street sweeper carried the animal home, where he lived with two dogs, which were former strays.

“I care for them because they’re the creatures no one notices,” Jun said. “I see myself in them. No one notices a street sweeper, after all.”

As Jesus walked toward Jericho on His way to Jerusalem, a blind man sat begging by the roadside. He felt unnoticed too. And on this day especially—when a crowd was passing through and all eyes were focused on Christ—no one stopped to help the beggar.

No one except Jesus. In the midst of the clamoring crowd, He heard the forgotten man’s cry. “What do you want me to do for you?” Christ asked, and He received the heartfelt reply, “Lord, I want to see.” Then Jesus said, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you” (Luke 18:41–42).

Do we feel unnoticed at times? Are our cries drowned out by people who seem to matter more than us? Our Savior notices those the world doesn’t care to notice. Call to Him for help! While others may pass us by, He’ll stop for us.

By:  Karen Huang

Reflect & Pray

How would knowing that Jesus sees you change how you view yourself and your life? Who are those around you who might need to be noticed, and how can you “stop” to encourage them with the Savior’s love?

Dear Jesus, thank You for hearing me when I call to You. Like the blind man who received his sight, help me to follow and praise You all my life.

http://www.odb.org

John MacArthur

Grace to You; John MacArthur – Attaining Spiritual Stability

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“Strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience” (Col. 1:11).

God always empowers you to do what He commands you to do.

An alarming number of Christians seem to lack spiritual stability. Many are “carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” (Eph. 4:14). Others lack moral purity. Many are driven by their emotions rather than sound thinking. Increasingly, therapists and psychologists are replacing pastors and biblical teachers as the heroes of the faith. While we still proclaim a sovereign, all- powerful God, our conduct often belies our creed.

Despite our inconsistences, the power for spiritual stability is ours in Christ as we allow the knowledge of His will to control our lives. Paul describes the working of that power in Colossians 1:11. There the Greek words translated “strengthened” and “power” speak of inherent power that gives one the ability to do something.

The phrase “according to” indicates that the power for spiritual stability is proportional to God’s abundant supply—and it is inexhaustible! The literal Greek says you are being “empowered with all power according to the might of His glory.” That thought is akin to Philippians 2:12-13, where Paul says that the power for working out your salvation comes from God, who is at work in you to will and to work for His good pleasure.

In Colossians 1:11 the result of God’s enabling is “the attaining of all steadfastness and patience.” “Steadfastness” speaks of endurance regarding people; “patience” speaks of endurance regarding things or circumstances. When you are steadfast and patient, you are spiritually stable. Your responses are biblical, thoughtful, and calculated; not worldly, emotional, or uncontrolled. You bear up under trials because you understand God’s purposes and trust His promises.

Paul said, “Be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might” (Eph. 6:10). That is possible when you trust God and rely on the infinite power that is yours in Christ.

Suggestions for Prayer

Perhaps you know someone who is struggling with spiritual instability. Pray for him or her and ask God to use you as a source of encouragement.

For Further Study

Psalm 18 is a psalm of victory that David wrote after God delivered him from Saul. Read it, then answer these questions:

  • What characteristics of God did David mention?
  • How might those characteristics apply to situations you are facing?

From Drawing Near by John MacArthur 

http://www.gty.org/

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Trusting God Is a Privilege

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Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

— Proverbs 3:5 (AMPC)

In plain, everyday language, this Scripture could read, “My dearly beloved children, I want you to have every earthly blessing you could possibly imagine, but only to the degree that you have spiritual maturity and Christlike character.” When you look at the Scripture this way, you get the message, “I need to grow up!”

You don’t need to talk God into blessing you. He wants to bless you. In fact, He wants to bless you more than you can imagine being blessed (see Ephesians 3:20). But even more than He wants you to have something, He wants you to be something. He wants you to be Christlike. Once you are something—spiritually mature—you will be able to handle having the earthly blessings He desires for you and use them for His glory.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, thank You for the reminder that You do want to bless me, but only to the degree that I can handle it in a spiritually mature manner. Now, help me to keep moving forward in You, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Alistair Begg

Truth for Life; Alistair Begg –Words That Help

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From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

James 3:10–12

In the course of our lives we are confronted by unfairness, by unkindness, by disagreeable circumstances, and often by disagreeable people. Before offering a verbal response in these situations, we would do well to recall this truth learned from our Lord: our words reflect our hearts (Matthew 12:34). If our words are not Christlike, we must look first not to our mouths but to our hearts. Equally, it is an indication of our Lord’s work within us when we respond to conflict and challenge with words that help rather than those that harm.

Our tongues contain immense power, and we may leverage them to help, to encourage, to affirm, to enrich, to reconcile, to forgive, to unite, to smooth, and to bless. It is not by accident that so many of the Old Testament proverbs address the words we speak. According to Solomon, “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life” (Proverbs 10:11). He compares this use of words to lovely earrings that adorn the beauty of the wearer and to beautiful ornaments that enhance the loveliness of a home (25:12). Perhaps his most classic statement about the power of speech is his observation that “a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver” (v 11).

What is it that makes for such life-giving language? How can our mouths be those that bring blessing to others? Words of blessing are marked by honesty, by “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). They are thoughtful, spoken by one who “ponders how to answer” (Proverbs 15:28). They are often few and marked by reason: “Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding” (17:27).

And, of course, helpful words will be gentle words. Though it may be hard to remember in the throes of difficult circumstances, it remains true that “a soft answer turns away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1). Indeed, a gentle response wells up from moral strength; it takes far more self-control to respond in gentleness than to give way to unbridled passion and anger.

What will mark your words? Will you commit yourself to using your tongue—that small but immensely powerful member of your body—to bless rather than curse, to give life rather than tear it down, and to help rather than harm?

Resolve today to use your words for the good of those with whom you interact, honoring Christ in your heart and letting His sweet aroma fill your speech. Then humbly acknowledge that you cannot do this yourself (James 3:8), and ask Him to fill you with His Spirit—the Spirit who grows peace, gentleness, and self-control both in your heart and in your speech (Galatians 5:22-23).

Questions for Thought

How is God calling me to think differently?

How is God reordering my heart’s affections — what I love?

What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today?

Further Reading

Galatians 5:16–25

Topics: Self-Control Speech

Devotional material is taken from the Truth For Life daily devotionals by Alistair Begg

http://www.truthforlife.org

Kids 4 Truth

Kids4Truth Clubs Daily Devotional – God Wants Us To Trust Him

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“And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” (John 10: 4-5)

Mary had a little lamb, her fleece was white as snow, and everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go. This nursery rhyme meant quite a bit to Mary, because she really did have a lamb that wanted to follow her everywhere. Her father wasn’t exactly a “shepherd,” but he was in charge of a ranch that raised sheep. Mary loved to go with her father whenever he would check on the flocks. One day, he asked Mary if she would like to help him take care of a special little lamb.

This little lamb’s mother had died, and the lamb had also been born blind. Mary’s job was to feed the lamb with a bottle every day. She also checked his coat too make sure it was not scratched or dirty. Mary named the lamb “Fluffy.” Soon, Fluffy learned to recognize Mary’s voice. Even though Fluffy was blind, as long as he could hear Mary, he would follow her anywhere she went.

Some of the ranch workers would try calling to Fluffy, to see if he would follow them, but he never did. He listened only to Mary, and he really did follow her voice anywhere. Once, Mary and Fluffy even got in trouble with Mary’s mom, because they came walking into the living room where Mary’s mom was having a meeting with some other ladies in the neighborhood!

Why do you think Fluffy would follow Mary, but not the ranch workers? Fluffy knew that Mary had been was the one who fed him and took care of him. Fluffy had learned that Mary would never hurt him in any way. Fluffy could tell Mary’s voice apart from any others, and there was no one else he cared to follow. Fluffy was just a lamb, and he was also blind; but he still knew enough to know he belonged to Mary and could trust her care.

In chapter 10 of John, Jesus refers to Himself as our Shepherd. As we experience God’s daily love and care for us, we learn that we can trust Him wherever He leads. By reading our Bibles and praying daily, we learn more of Him, which helps our trust grow even stronger. We can grow closer to Him every day, and we can learn to tune out the other influences in our lives that might lead us astray. What a wonderful Shepherd we have!

God has daily proven His love and power, and we can rest safely in His care.

My Response:
» Am I willing to submit to and follow a loving God?
» How can I draw nearer to God every day?
» How does God’s trustworthiness compare to the other “voices” and desires that call out for me to follow them?

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Denison Forum

Denison Forum – New satellites will take us “one step closer to a Big Brother-is-watching kind of world”

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My iPhone installed its latest update this morning. These often address security issues with the software; for example, a recent update fixed a bug that allowed Siri, the company’s AI-based virtual assistant, to record people’s conversations without their consent, even if they opted out of it. Apple didn’t disclose whether the latest update addresses such issues, so I guess I’ll have to wait to see if I should be worried.

I’m not alone in my concern: more than half of the mobile devices in the US are Apple devices using its proprietary iOS operating system. Privacy issues are not limited to our mobile phones: for example, one university is racing to remove vending machines that were found to be collecting students’ facial-recognition data without their consent.

Meanwhile, the New York Times is reporting that new satellites orbiting the Earth at very low altitudes “may result in a world where nothing is really off limits.” The satellites will be able to image objects as small as four inches.

According to one critic, “This is a giant camera in the sky for any government to use at any time without our knowledge.” A Harvard astrophysicist adds, “It’s taking us one step closer to a Big Brother-is-watching kind of world.”

The New York Times is reporting that new satellites orbiting the Earth at very low altitudes “may result in a world where nothing is really off limits.” The satellites will be able to image objects as small as four inches. According to one critic, “This is a giant camera in the sky for any government to use at any time without our knowledge.” A Harvard astrophysicist adds, “It’s taking us one step closer to a Big Brother-is-watching kind of world.” How can we best live with optimism and hope in a world filled with pessimism and fear?

An astonishing fact

This week, we’re discussing paths to optimism and hope in a world filled with pessimism and fear. The wrong response is to ignore the frightening challenges of our day. The right response is based not in our circumstances but in our Creator, remembering that he loves us, not because we are worthy of his love but because he “is” love (1 John 4:8).

Consequently, as Edmund Burke noted, “There is nothing you could ever do that would change the way God feels about you.” This fact applies to you today, as St. Augustine observed: “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.”

The astonishing truth is:

God loves you as much right now as he has ever loved anyone in human history.

Here’s why this is such good news: If we could merit God’s love, we could forfeit it. Anything we must earn, we can lose. But since God loves us by virtue of his unchanging character (Malachi 3:6) rather than our fallen nature, he can never not love us.

Just as there is nothing we can do to make him love us any more than he does, there is nothing we can do to make him love us any less.

Imagine a world like this

Now comes the practical point.

Our transactional culture has made us consumers of commodities, including other people. Accordingly, we tend to love the lovable and detest the detestable. However, Jesus clearly instructed us: “Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34). Just as in the Greek means “to the same degree, in the same way.”

How does Jesus love us?

  • Sacrificially: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
  • Unconditionally: “Neither death, nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39).
  • By taking the initiative: “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).
  • Despite our failures: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Now we are to love others as we are loved. This means that the more they reject us, the more they need our compassion and intercession. The sicker the patient, the more urgent the physician.

Again, our love for others is not based on their merit. Nor are we to love people in order to merit God’s love for us in return. We are free to love because we are loved, not so we will be loved. And the more we experience God’s love, the more we are empowered to share that love with others (cf. Galatians 5:22).

Imagine a world in which everyone found their self-worth in God’s love and then loved everyone else as they are loved. What would be the impact on war? Crime? Pornography, adultery, and sex trafficking? Loneliness? Suicide and other deaths of despair? How powerful and compelling would our Christian witness become? How many lost souls would find God’s love through ours?

Four transforming prayers

Tomorrow we’ll see how this conversation relates to the problem people in our lives, seeking ways to experience and share God’s love in response to our deepest hurts.

For today, I invite you to take a moment to pray:

  • Thank your Father for loving you before he created you.
  • Thank him for loving you despite every sin you’ve ever committed and every sin you’ll ever commit.
  • Thank him for loving every person you’ll meet today as much as he loves you.
  • Now ask his Spirit to help you love those you meet today as you are loved by your Father.

If each of us began every day like this, how could our lives—and our world—be the same?

NOTE: “Her constant reminders of God’s goodness, even when we may not understand his ways, was such a healing balm.” That’s what one reader said about my wife Janet’s devotional book. If you’re searching for God’s peace, I highly recommend Janet’s devotional,A Great Calm.

Tuesday news to know

Quote for the day

“In the twilight of life, God will not judge us on our earthly possessions and human successes, but on how well we have loved.” —St. John of the Cross, 1542–91

Denison Forum

John Hagee

Hagee Ministries; John Hagee –  Daily Devotion

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I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly.

Psalm 85:8

When our hearts are broken and our lives are in turmoil, we long to hear the word of the Lord to us. We need to know how to gather up the pieces and move ahead.

Many times, God already has written down the answer for us. We simply need to open His book and obey His precepts.

If the enemy has attacked your family, the Word from the Lord is that “no weapon formed against you shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17). If the enemy has attacked you with sickness, the Word from the Lord is that “by His stripes, we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). If the enemy has attacked your finances, the Word from the Lord is that “God shall supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

God will never whisper something in our ears that He has not clearly written in His Word. He is not the Author of confusion. Out of the mouths of two or three witnesses, a matter is confirmed (2 Corinthians 13:1). If the Holy Spirit gives you specific direction, verify it in His Word. Then, confirm it with a spiritual authority – a pastor or leader. Let us hear only what God speaks.

Blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. Receive the Word of the Lord today. Through the power of Jesus Christ, lay hold of the promises of God for your life.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Leviticus 20:22-22:20

New Testament 

Mark 9:1-29

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 43:1-5

Proverbs 10:18

https://www.jhm.org

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Soul Soil

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The Lord God planted a garden.
Genesis 2:8

 Recommended Reading: John 15:1-4

Faith is the soil in which all the other virtues grow. In 2 Peter 1:5-7, we’re told to have soul soil of faith and to let it produce increasing amounts of virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.

If you’ve done any gardening, you know weeds come up naturally, but crops and flowers have to be cultivated. Adam and Eve were given the task of tending to the Garden of Eden, and we’re charged with tending to our own souls under the watchful care of the Master Gardener (John 15:1).

A preacher of yesterday, Mark Guy Pearse, said, “Gardens are made out of waste places…. Before the King can make a garden, He must own the land…. [But] if it be the King’s garden the King Himself will come to it.”

Let’s strive to be fruitful! Once we believe and have faith, we should devote ourselves to growing deeper in that faith, abiding in Christ, being fruitful, and producing the other virtues God loves.

Jesus says to us, “My son, give Me thine heart.” He wants the heart, not because it is a garden, but that He may make a King’s garden of it.
Mark Guy Pearse

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – The Blessed Interruption

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But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. 

—Ephesians 2:13

Scripture:

Ephesians 2:13 

Ancient Ephesus was known for its cultural learning, its incredible edifices, and its spirituality. The people of Ephesus were very religious. They worshipped many gods and erected idols of every conceivable deity.

These were religious people, but they did not know God. Their religion was their vain attempt to reach God through their own human efforts. Although there were numerous gods in Ephesus, the people of that city did not have a relationship with the one true God.

Historians tell us that a great cloud of hopelessness covered the ancient world. Their philosophies were empty, and their traditions were disappearing. In addition, their religions were powerless to impact them in this life or to prepare them for the life to come.

Yet, is that not a picture, in many ways, of our culture today? We have made incredible advances in technology, but people are searching spiritually. They’re asking the big questions: Why am I here? What is the meaning of life?

Sadly, so many are looking for truth in all the wrong places. They want the benefits of faith but not the restrictions of it. They have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. The Bible tells us that will be a sign of the last days. According to 2 Timothy 3:5, people “will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly” (NLT).

There is only one way of reconciliation that God has made available to us. If we want reconciliation with God, it will come only through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:13 tells us, “But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ” (NLT).

Notice the words “but now.” We were on our way to a certain judgment, but God interrupted that when He sent Jesus. It was a blessed interruption. Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus and His shed blood, we now have been reconciled to God.

Sin is the great separator in the world. Ever since it entered in, it has been dividing people throughout human history.

When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, sin immediately began its work of separation. It separated Adam and Eve from God. And ultimately, it separated their sons Cain and Abel.

But at the cross of Calvary, Jesus eliminated the wall that separates us from God. He brought about reconciliation.

We can come to God right now, but not because of our worthiness or because of the good deeds we’ve done. We come to Him because of a relationship with Him—and that relationship was purchased through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie
Days of Praise

Days of Praise – Seducing Spirits

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by John D. Morris, Ph.D.


“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” (1 Timothy 4:1)

These “latter days” are surely characterized by the tragic departure from the faith on the part of many. Unfortunately, even many of our churches have followed what should certainly be exposed as “seducing spirits,” embracing lies taught under the influence of Satan. A list of such false teachings and practices within the church would surely implicate many. Let us look at the examples Paul gives in the next few verses.

First, he identifies the leaders and teachers of these errors as hypocritical liars who intentionally deceive their prey. They have deadened any possibility of right attitude by hardening their minds and searing their consciences (v. 2).

Next, we are given examples of their heresy: “Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving” (v. 3).

Many cults and pseudo-Christian groups have fallen into these traps, but both the institution of marriage and the provision of foods were specifically created by God for man’s enjoyment and blessing (marriage: see Genesis 1:28; 2:18, 24; foods: Genesis 1:29; 9:3). They are to be “received with thanksgiving” to a loving Creator, “sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:4-5). Each of these and all of God’s creation are “very good” (Genesis 1:31) if used properly.

But the main point of this passage is that we should guard against the heresy of false teachers and from imposing on ourselves and our fellow Christians a false piety—practices that may make us feel “holier than thou” but that in reality impugn God and His creation. Rather, let us be among those “which believe and know the truth” (1 Timothy 4:3) of God’s loving provision of creation. JDM

https://www.icr.org/articles/type/6

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Walking in Jesus’ Shoes

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Bible in a Year :

Clothe yourselves with compassion.

Colossians 3:12

Today’s Scripture & Insight :

Colossians 3:8–17

What would it be like to walk in the shoes of royalty? Angela Kelly, the daughter of a dockworker and nurse, knows. She was also the official dresser for the late Queen Elizabeth for the last two decades of the monarch’s life. One of her responsibilities was to break-in the aging Queen’s new shoes by walking in them around the palace grounds. There was a reason for it: compassion for an elderly woman who sometimes was required to stand for extended periods at ceremonies. Because they wore the same shoe size, Kelly was able to save her some discomfort.

Kelly’s personal touch in her care for Queen Elizabeth makes me think of Paul’s warm encouragement to the church in Colossae (an area in modern Turkey): “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12). When our lives are “built on” Jesus (2:7 nlt), we become “God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved” (3:12). He helps us take off our “old self” and “put on the new self” (vv. 9–10)—living out the identity of those who love and forgive others because God has loved and forgiven us (vv. 13–14).

All around us are those who need us to “walk in their shoes” and have compassion for them in the day-to-day challenges of life. When we do, we walk in the shoes (or the sandals) of a humble king—Jesus—who always has compassion for us.

By:  James Banks

Reflect & Pray

How has God had compassion for you? Who can you show His love to today?

Thank You, Jesus, for Your forgiveness and love. Help me to receive it, and also to give it away.

http://www.odb.org

John MacArthur

Grace to You; John MacArthur – Being Merciful

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“‘Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful’” (Luke 6:36).

Since we have received mercy from God, we are obligated to show mercy to those with physical or spiritual needs.

Jesus demonstrated His mercy many times as He went about healing people and casting out demons. Two blind men cried out, “‘Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!’ . . . And moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight, and followed Him” (Matt. 20:30, 34). He was also deeply moved in spirit and wept when He saw the sorrow that Lazarus’s death caused (John 11:33-36).

His greatest mercy was shown, though, to those with spiritual needs. Not only did He heal a paralytic, but He forgave his sins (Luke 5:18-25). He also prayed for His executioners, saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

We can show mercy by our physical acts. John says, “But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth” (1 John 3:17-18).

We must also show mercy spiritually. Because we have experienced God’s mercy, we should have great concern for those who have not. We show spiritual mercy by proclaiming the saving gospel of Jesus Christ to the unsaved and by praying that God would show His mercy to them.

We also demonstrate spiritual mercy by lovingly confronting sinning Christians: “Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourselves, lest you too be tempted” (Gal. 6:1). Sinning Christians bring reproach on Christ and His church and will fall under God’s discipline. In such cases it is wrong to say nothing and let the harm continue.

God has promised us in Matthew 5:7 that we will receive mercy from Him if we are merciful to others. If we have received unlimited mercy from our loving God, if we have been lifted from our poor, sinful, wretched state to become citizens of heaven, how can we withhold mercy from others?

Suggestions for Prayer

Pray that you would be sensitive to opportunities to show mercy today.

For Further Study

Read Matthew 23:37-39.

  • What was Jerusalem’s condition in verse 37?
  • How does that intensify the nature of Christ’s compassion and mercy toward His people?

From Strength for Today by John MacArthur 

http://www.gty.org/

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Instant Gratification

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So be patient, brethren, [as you wait] till the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits expectantly for the precious harvest from the land. [See how] he keeps up his patient [vigil] over it until it receives the early and late rains.

— James 5:7 (AMPC)

“Instant gratification takes too long,” my friend said and laughed. She was standing in front of the microwave. She had set the timer for 90 seconds to heat her coffee. Her toe tapped as she impatiently waited.

I smiled as I watched, but then I realized that we’ve been spoiled by the word instant in our lives today. We have instant credit approval, instant oatmeal, and instant love. We’ve tried to trap God into the same way of thinking. “God, give it to me now,” we pray. Or if we don’t use those words, that’s what we mean.

One of the things I’ve learned from my years of Bible study is that we can’t hurry the Lord. He does things in His time. In earlier meditations, I’ve already pointed out the long waits Abraham and Joseph completed. Moses fled into the wilderness after killing a man and waited forty years for God to tap him on the shoulder. Rachel prayed for years to have a child, and so did Hannah, before God answered them.

When God sent Ananias to pray for the blinded Saul (later called Paul), the Lord said, “. . . Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the descendants of Israel” (Acts 9:15). After being healed, did Paul immediately rush out and preach to royalty? Years passed before God fulfilled that promise. No instant gratification there.

Many people grow impatient in waiting, and of course, the devil uses that to sneer and say, “God isn’t going to do what He promised. If He were going to do it, He would have done it by now.”

As I’ve thought about the matter of human impatience, I’ve realized that impatience is the fruit of pride. The proud can’t seem to wait for anything with a proper attitude. It’s as if they cry out, “I deserve it—and I deserve it right now.”

I want to point out two things from the words of James 5:7. First, God doesn’t say, “Be patient if you wait,” but “Be patient as you wait.” He uses the beautiful example of farmers. They prepare the soil and plant the crops, and then comes the waiting. They know that in God’s time, the crops will produce, and they also realize that it’s a different growing season for tomatoes than it is for wheat.

Second, we need to enjoy our lives now—right now while we wait. So many people complain about wasting time (which is how they talk about waiting). Instead of pacing and grumbling about how long we have to wait in line at the grocery store or the traffic congestion on the expressway, what if you said, “Thanks, God. I can slow down now. I can enjoy this moment. Every second of my life doesn’t have to be productive or bring results.”

The psalmist said it this way: “My times are in Your hands; deliver me from the hands of my foes and those who pursue me and persecute me” (Psalm 31:15). This was the prayer by a man in a desperate situation. His enemies were out to kill him. Still, he didn’t panic, but said, “My times are in Your hands.”

Isn’t that how God wants you to live? Your life and your times are in God’s hands. Doesn’t it follow then, that if you’re facing delays and have to wait, God knows? He’s the One Who controls the clock of life. “My times are in Your hands.” That’s the way God wants you to live—and to enjoy the waiting time. Don’t focus just on receiving or moving on. Focus on relishing the moments that God has given you to relax and enjoy them as a gift from God Himself.

Prayer of the Day: God, I get impatient, and I want instant answers to prayers and solutions to my problems. But that’s not Your way. My times are in Your hands. In the name of Jesus Christ, help me to enjoy the waiting time and remind myself that I’m waiting for You—and the wait is always worth it, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Alistair Begg

Truth for Life; Alistair Begg – Knowing God

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No longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 31:34

In the days of the prophet Jeremiah, God refused to break the covenant He had made with His people. Despite His steadfast love, though, God’s people continued to sin. This presented a problem: how could God fulfill the promises He had made to bless His people when they continually demonstrated their unfaithfulness to Him?

As a part of His great plan, God pledged a new covenant—a work of inner re-creation. As the theologian Alec Motyer writes, “When his people could not rise to the height of his standards, the Lord does not lower his standards to match their ability; he transforms his people.”[1]

This new covenant is the purpose and promise of God to regenerate hearts through the blood of the Lord Jesus. He takes our hearts and He makes them the perfect shape—like fitting a piece in a jigsaw puzzle—so that His law becomes a delight to us.

In God’s declaration of this new covenant, the verb “know” is key. In the original Hebrew, its meaning is clear from the very beginning in Genesis: the straightforward statement that Adam “knew” his wife and they bore children (Genesis 4:1) demonstrates the level of intimacy it conveys. God is saying that when His people come to an understanding of His love, they won’t simply be doing Bible studies at arm’s length; they’ll be people who truly know Him.

What Jeremiah spoke of in the future tense, we are able to enjoy in the present; for in between his prophecy and our time, the Lord Jesus held up a cup of wine the night before He died and announced, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:20). By God’s grace, you and I may know the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Not only this, but He also knows each of our names, individually; and He knows our needs and is committed to our well-being. Jesus bears our names before the Father—and because of all He is and all He’s done, those names are written in the Book of Life.

What kind of King is this? The answer is beyond our ability to fully comprehend. Someday, we will see Him face-to-face and understand far more than we do today. But still, today you can go about with the confidence that comes from knowing that you know the God who redeemed you through His Son, who dwells in and works in you by His Spirit, and in whose throne room you will one day stand.

Questions for Thought

How is God calling me to think differently?

How is God reordering my heart’s affections — what I love?

What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today?

Further Reading

Jeremiah 31:31–40

Topics: God’s Covenants New Birth

FOOTNOTES

1 Look to the Rock: An Old Testament Background to Our Understanding of Christ (Kregel, 1996), p 58-59.

Devotional material is taken from the Truth For Life daily devotionals by Alistair Begg

http://www.truthforlife.org

Kids 4 Truth

Kids4Truth Clubs Daily Devotional – God is the King of Glory

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“Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle…Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.” (Psalm 24: 8, 10)

Have you ever imagined that you were a prince or a princess? Have you ever imagined that someday you would rule a kingdom all your own? Wouldn’t it be great if we could all be princes and princesses? Sadly, it doesn’t work that way. We can’t ALL be princes and princesses.

One of the songwriters in the Bible called God the “King of glory.” What do you suppose it means to be the “King of glory”? Doesn’t a king normally have a kingdom and people to rule? How do you rule over glory? The word “glory” means “great honor, praise, or distinction.” The word “king” means “one who is supreme or preeminent.” If you put the two words together, “king of glory” means “one who is supreme or preeminent in great honor, praise, or distinction.”

God is the one and only true King of glory. He is the only One Who deserves our worship and honor. We can praise people and things, but God deserves our highest praise much more than people or things do.

The world does praise movie stars and sports players, talking all the time about how great so-and-so is. Someone who has a unique skill might be called “king” of it as a way of showing that he has earned high honor for himself. A great basketball player might be called “King of Hoops,” or a great baseball player might be called “King of Diamonds.” Usually, when a human being is famous for being good at something, he is only good at that one thing. Some basketball players could never fix their car’s engine. Some movie stars could not swing a baseball bat.

But Whose greatness should believers be constantly talking about? Who is the King Who deserves the highest glory? That is really the question that the songwriter is asking in Psalm 24: “Who is this King of glory?” And both of these verses answer the same way: “The LORD.” Each of the verses gives different characteristics of God. He is “strong and mighty,” “strong in battle,” and “the LORD of hosts.” But the King Who has all these characteristics is just one Person–the one true God.

How should we honor and praise the “King of glory”? We can start by admitting God is Who He says He is, and obey Him and behave toward others as though God really exists. We can sing songs to praise God, tell God we love Him, and tell other people about how God is the one and only “King of glory.” When we do right, we are giving praise to the Lord.

God is the King of glory, and we ought to honor Him.

My Response:
» Am I admitting and acting like God is the King of glory?

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Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Alabama Supreme Court rules that frozen embryos are “unborn children”: When does life begin? What does this decision mean for abortion and the sanctity of life?

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The Supreme Court of Alabama ruled this week that the state’s Wrongful Death of a Minor Act applies to frozen embryos. This decision classifies embryos created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) as “unborn children” and thus human lives, including those who were created in laboratories and then frozen.

In response, a large Alabama hospital paused IVF treatments yesterday as health care providers weigh the impact of the ruling.

If embryos were to be legally classified as human beings (a position known as “fetal personhood”), the implications would be seismic across our society:

  • Abortions would be the ending of a human life and thus illegal in principle.
  • Embryos could no longer be destroyed, donated for research, or even stored (except for future implantation in their mother).
  • Unborn children would presumably qualify as “persons” under the Fourteenth Amendment’s provision that “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and the State wherein they reside.” This would grant unborn children all the other rights and privileges accorded US citizens.

It is obviously too soon to know the full consequences of this ruling for the people of Alabama or whether it will impact other states. But it does raise questions that are relevant for those of us who believe life is sacred from conception:

  • How should we view embryos outside the womb?
  • Should they also be considered human and thus sacred?
  • Should couples struggling with infertility turn to IVF? If so, with what guidelines?

Since this is a very large and complex issue, I have written a white paper for our website that examines these and other questions in some depth. The paper originated with work I have done over the years as Resident Scholar for Ethics with a major not-for-profit healthcare system. I’ll summarize the paper as it relates to the foundational issue before us today.

Fertilization or implantation?

Does life begin when the sperm fertilizes the egg or when the fertilized egg is implanted in the mother’s womb?

The position that life begins at implantation would view an embryo created through IVF as a “zygote” rather than a person, with these consequences:

  • It could be frozen for possible use in the future.
  • A large number of zygotes could be created in the lab and then subjected to testing (known as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis or PGD) to determine which are most viable before implantation, with the others frozen or discarded.
  • It could be used ethically to harvest stem cells and for other research and pharmaceutical purposes.

The position that life begins at fertilization views an embryo created through IVF as a human, the position taken by the Alabama Supreme Court. It would mean:

  • An embryo created through IVF must not be the subject of experiments, stem cell harvesting, or any other procedure we would not ethically conduct on any other human.
  • IVF could be used only to create embryos for implantation and would not subject them to PGD.

For reasons I explain in detail in my website paper, I agree with the large number of embryologists and ethicists who believe life begins at fertilization. Accordingly, I believe that the Alabama Supreme Court made the right decision from an ethical perspective. And I support the conclusions noted above regarding the value and status of embryos created through IVF.

“Recognize to whom you owe the fact that you exist”

What does today’s conversation say to those of us who are not making IVF decisions or affected directly by them? At the very least, we are reminded that each of us, however we were conceived, is “fearfully and wonderfully made” by our Maker (Psalm 139:14).

To this end, let’s close with these reflections by St. Gregory of Nazianzus (329–390):

Recognize to whom you owe the fact that you exist, that you breathe, that you understand, that you are wise, and, above all, that you know God and hope for the kingdom of heaven and the vision of glory, now darkly as in a mirror but then with greater fullness and purity. You have been made a son of God, co-heir with Christ.

Where did you get all this, and from whom?

Let me turn to what is of less importance: the visible world around us. What benefactor enabled you to look out upon the beauty of the sky, the sun in its course, the circle of the moon, the countless number of stars, with the harmony and order that are theirs, like the music of a harp? Who has blessed you with rain, with the art of husbandry, with different kinds of food, with the arts, with houses, with laws, with states, with a life of humanity and culture, with friendship and the easy familiarity of kinship?

He concludes:

Brethren and friends, let us never allow ourselves to misuse what has been given us by God’s gift.

St. Gregory is right: God views your life as his providential, gracious, and unique gift.

How will this fact change your day?

NOTE: The unfortunate truth about life is that you’re either in a storm right now, you’ve just come out of one, or you’re about to head into one. But no matter where you are, Jesus cares about what you’re going through. In A Great Calm, a devotional written by my wife Janet Denison, you will be encouraged no matter the storms that rage around you or before you. Please request your copy of A Great Calm today.

Thursday news to know

Quote for the day

“Each of you has a personal vocation which God has given you for your own joy and sanctity. When a person is conquered by the fire of his gaze, no sacrifice seems too great to follow him and give him the best of ourselves.” —Pope Benedict XVI

Denison Forum

John Hagee

Hagee Ministries; John Hagee –  Daily Devotion

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Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58

As we go about the work of growing our marriage relationships and building strong families, we can take heart that our “labor is not in vain in the Lord.” Our work is worthwhile.

Consistency is key in our marriages. We must be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding.” To our spouse, we must remain dependable, trustworthy, and committed. We must be stubbornly and uncompromisingly devoted to the vows that we made before God and our family and friends.

Consistency compliments before it criticizes. Consistency appreciates instead of compares. Consistency yields instead of attempts to control. Consistency loves unconditionally. Consistency communicates instead of dictates.

Sacrificial love involves an act of the will, as well as the emotions. It is a decision to consider the needs of another person before our own, to take the necessary actions to benefit and bless our spouse, and to determine to protect and preserve our marriages.

We have the ability to abolish the power struggles in our marriages. We may not be able to influence the political or economic power struggles in our culture today, but God has given us impact and influence in our homes. We must resolve to submit to God and to serve one another as we raise our children in “the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). This is worthwhile work.

Blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May your marriage remain steadfast and immovable, a relationship that reflects His glory and accomplishes His purposes. In Jesus’ name…Amen.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Leviticus 13:1-59

New Testament 

Mark 6:1-29

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 39:1-13

Proverbs 10:10

https://www.jhm.org

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Brotherly Love

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Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.
Romans 12:10

 Recommended Reading: Philippians 2:1-5

In 1681, England’s King Charles II granted William Penn, an English Quaker, a charter to establish what eventually became the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in America. Having suffered religious persecution in England, Penn wanted his newfound colony to be a place of religious freedom for all. Thus, he named what became the capital city Philadelphia—a Greek word for “brotherly love” (Greek philos means “beloved,” adelphos means “brother”). 

“Brotherly love” is an important subject in the New Testament epistles (Romans 12:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; Hebrews 13:1; 2 Peter 1:7). A hallmark of brotherly (and sisterly) love is the choice to put the interests of others ahead of one’s own—to “honor” others by giving preference to them. Paul writes that we should imitate Christ in this regard, doing nothing out of selfish ambition but considering others’ needs ahead of our own (Philippians 2:1-5). We should settle grievances quickly, not letting them carry over to tomorrow (Ephesians 4:26-27). 

Look for ways today to express brotherly love to someone by putting their needs and interests ahead of your own.

Brotherly love is the badge of Christ’s disciples.
Matthew Henry

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – Better Off, but Not Better

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Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ. 

—Philippians 3:8

Scripture:

Philippians 3:8 

If ever there was a man who had a spiritual pedigree, it was the apostle Paul, formerly known as Saul. He was someone who had done it all.

In his own words, he said, “Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law” (Philippians 3:4–5 NLT).

Then, a few verses later, he made an amazing statement: “I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ” (verses 7–8 NLT).

Paul was saying, “I know all about self-righteousness. In fact, I obeyed the law so carefully, there was no one who could claim that I broke God’s commandments.” Yet Paul was saying that the things that he once considered valuable were worthless to him. They no longer meant anything.

We shouldn’t feel arrogant as believers. Paul reminded the Christians in Ephesus, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it” (Ephesians 2:8–9 nlt).

Christians are not better than non-Christians. Are we better off? Yes. But are we better? No. I’ve often described myself as one beggar telling another beggar where to find food. We need to be humble because it wasn’t that long ago that we, too, were separated from God.

Sometimes people who were raised in a Christian environment or in a home where Christian values were honored develop a resistance to the gospel. There can be boasting in a spiritual pedigree.

Sometimes, we feel so proud of ourselves as Christians. We might sit in church and think, “Here I am at church while my children are in Sunday school, learning the Word of God. Right next to me is my spouse of twelve years. We’ve never had any problems in our marriage to speak of. Everything is going well in our lives. We’re very spiritual people.”

But we’d better be careful because the Bible says that pride goes before a fall (see Proverbs 16:18). And 1 John 2:16 warns, “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world” (NLT).

The devil is cunning. If he doesn’t catch you in other sins, he might get you through pride. You might just slip and fall. So don’t boast.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie
Days of Praise

Days of Praise – When the Lord Comes

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” (Genesis 15:1)

This is the first of the great “I am’s” of Scripture, and it was given to Father Abraham at a time of both great victory and great despondence. The Lord had enabled Abraham’s little army to vanquish a much larger Amorite host, but then, still childless, he was suddenly overwhelmed by his loneliness and vulnerability in an alien land.

Then Jesus came! When Christ much later affirmed His eternal self-existence to the Pharisees (“I am,” He had said), He claimed that Abraham had seen His day and rejoiced (John 8:56). This experience, recorded early in Genesis, was, no doubt, that great occasion. As the living Word (John 1:1) by whom all things were made (v. 3), He assured Abram that He Himself would provide all needed protection (“thy shield”) and all needed blessing (“exceeding great reward”). And then it was that “he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal existing Creator and Redeemer of all things, is no less able today than then to be our protection—and our provision as well.

Note also that it was the Word of the Lord that came to Abram in a vision. This is the first use of the Hebrew word dabar in Scripture to mean “word,” and here it is the Word of God personified. This still further identifies the vision with the pre-incarnate Christ, who would eventually become God’s incarnate Word (John 1:1, 14).

Thus, as to Abram, God says, “Fear not!” Adam, indeed, was justifiably afraid when he heard the voice of the Lord (Genesis 3:10), for he had only a fig leaf for a covering. But, like Abram, we have a strong shield, which is none other than the Lord Himself. HMM

https://www.icr.org/articles/type/6